I have been running and training sleddogs for over 17 years, through the wilderness of all the places that our lives have taken
us.I grew up in Ross River, Faro and in the bush. Since a child I have listened to the radio, and read the newspapers and
dreamed of running behind a team od sleddogs through the
cold, and night that accompanys the Yukon Quest.
My husband and I met in Dawson City, and lived here for 2 years, before moving
to Alberta so he could finnish his apprenticeship in Heavy duty mechanics and so I could expand my education
in dog training. I took a course through Canadian Canine Training in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Leanne opened my eyes and thoughts,
to a entire new way of traing dogs, she taught me alot of the "new" methods and techniques. It was very
interesting, and today I use ALOT of what she taught and what I learned from that time. I did obediance
training, kennel managment, grooming and some behaviour modification training, as well as movie dog prepping.
I always knew I would not stay south as I was determined to come back to my "happy place" and as soon
as Hayden had finnished his training, I started to send his resumes out to the great north (with out him knowing). To his
surprise and my relief he got a call from a mine up here. I told him I was not staying in Alberta and I would like him to
come along (he wanted to stay in Alberta) and thankfully he choose to move back north as well. We packed our house up left it for sale and empty and was hoping it would sell. (it
did)
4 years ago I started buying siberians (again a surprise to Hayden, they would just show up and he
would be surprised yet again. He would ask me what I did that day and I would tell him, went to the airport, or superstore
and picked up another dog. He was not too impressed with having 9- 14 dogs and pups down town in Grande Prairie, but he stuck
through it :).
Our first siberian for racing was Garter. I was hoping to end up with a dog I could use for a stud,
and he turned out to be exactly that! My next 2 dogs were females from Deena Wananamakers team.
Another suprprise to Hayden.
Hayden "what do you want to do this weekend?"
Me " I was thinking we could drive to RedDeer and
pick up 2 more dogs"
Hayden "yah right your joking right?........your serious?"
me "yah they are paid for so I guess we should
go"
Hayden ........................."alright"................................
That trip was slow and a snow storm like we have never seen before, BOTH WAYS!
I bred Glinda nad Garter and got a great bunch of pups, all but one was a female. We lost the male
to a unforunate accident, and I needed more males so we did a repeat breeding and got 1 female and 4 males. Glinda and Garter
are an amazing couple, having 2 litters with amazing pups, I know the drive through the storm was well worth it!
We have accuired 4 more dogs through Chlout siberians and raised another litter.
and are now at 18 siberians, with more to come!
I have high hopes and a strong belief we have an amazing group of dogs to work
and mold into a great distance team, I can not wait to see how they do this year in our first season of
racing!
